Should either Norris or even Oscar Piastri secures the championship this Sunday, it will represent the team's initial drivers' championship since Hamilton won it back in 2008.
McLaren star Lando Norris has stated he cannot imagine a situation where he would request fellow driver Oscar Piastri to move over for him to facilitate his title pursuit.
Norris, 26, currently holds a 12-point advantage over the Max Verstappen and a sixteen-point margin over Piastri as they approach this season's finale in Abu Dhabi.
Each of the three drivers remain in the hunt for the title, with 25 points available for a victory and eighteen for the runner-up spot.
The Briton needs to finish on the podium at the Yas Marina Circuit to guarantee claiming his first-ever Formula One title; he would lose out if, for example, Verstappen wins and he finishes in fourth.
In a scenario where Piastri was placed higher than his team-mate in either second or third with Verstappen leading, McLaren could ask the Aussie to allow Norris through.
"The decision isn't mine and I'm not going to ask it," stated Norris on media day. "I don't want to ask it because I feel it's particularly a fair question."
"It's unclear. The choice lies with Oscar if he would allow it, you know?" Norris continued.
The Outsider's Perspective
Piastri is now the outsider to secure his maiden drivers' title, as the 24-year-old needs to win the race on race day and for his team-mate to end up sixth or worse.
"It's not something we have discussed," said Piastri, who was competitive again in Qatar and should have won the race but ended up finishing second to Verstappen after a questionable strategic decision.
"Before I know what's kind of expected, I don't have an response," he said.
A Reversed Scenario
However, Norris indicated if the roles were reversed and it was Piastri who was needing help in the final race, he would be prepared to let his team-mate pass.
"Personally, I believe I would, just because I feel I'm always like that. It's in my nature," he said.
He was thirty-four points adrift of Piastri following his DNF at the Zandvoort race at the tail end of summer but podiums at Monza, Singapore and Austin, coupled with consecutive wins in Mexico City and São Paulo, allowed him to retake the lead of the title fight heading into the closing stages.
He is aiming to become the 11th British Formula 1 driver to be crowned champion of the world.
Norris originally took P2 at the Las Vegas Grand Prix two weeks ago but a double disqualification for the team gave that eventual victor Max Verstappen a lifeline back into the championship.
The three championship rivals faced the media during a busy press conference in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
Verstappen's Comeback
The Dutchman trailed Piastri by a massive 104 points after finishing P2 at his home race in the Netherlands but he has pulled himself back into contention with five victories since the mid-season break, most recently last weekend in Doha.
His most straightforward path to glory is for him to win in Abu Dhabi and for Norris to end up fourth or worse.
"I had not anticipated to be in the title fight but here we are," remarked Verstappen, who can match legend Michael Schumacher's record of five straight drivers' titles if he claims the crown in Abu Dhabi.
"Following the Dutch GP everything was cancelled. My dad is rallying in Africa. My mother is happy with the dogs," he said.
"Naturally, they continually back me; my mother always lights a candle before every race weekend. But I suppose they trust their son," he added.
The Final Stance
Lando Norris stated if Verstappen triumphs over him and Piastri, then they will say congratulations and "look forward to next year".
He continued: "It changes nothing, it doesn't alter my life. So he'll deserve it over us."
